Two things make most people feel stressed;
- If their home is full of clutter.
- If there is something they need to do but fear it may be difficult.
These two things are present when moving house. That is why a lot of us feel moving house is stressful.
As long as we are not leaving friends and other loved ones behind, most people don’t mind moving house. Exchanging the routines of an old environment for a new one is exciting. The only problem is, to experience the adventure of new surroundings we have to go through the pain of sorting and organizing our stuff.
TrustArt Realty Property Management advises there are two ways to deal with this stress:
- You can postpone the pain by pushing the task forward; avoid packing until the last moment. Finally, when you can’t procrastinate anymore, stuff everything in boxes without trying to arrange them. Before you know it, you will be ready to move. The problem when you do this is: you will have lots of damaged and missing items, you will overpay for moving, and unpacking in your new home will be a huge nightmare.
- The second way is to bite the bullet; accept that stress is a normal part of moving house and look for ways to minimize that stress. To help make the process easier, find out as much as possible about the best ways to pack your home and follow those recommendations. This second option will be harder at first, but you will protect your belongings from damage, cut your moving costs and make unpacking in your new home easier.
If the second option sounds like something you want, this article will show you some steps to reduce stress when moving house.
How to reduce stress when moving house
1. Start early
If you planned to complete your packing in one week, make it two weeks. In all probability, you will underestimate the work it takes to pack the home. Having too many things to do and not enough time for them is part of what causes stress.
2. Design a strategic plan for packing
The plan should specify if you will pack your items room-by-room, by categories (clothes, shoes, books, furniture, toys, etc.), or start with the least used items. It should break the entire process into small tasks and set clear deadlines for each of them.
3. Create a moving checklist
You can search for downloadable checklists online or create one. The list should include every task: buying moving supplies, finding a mover, notifying service providers or utility companies, changing postal addresses, and more. Attach a deadline to every item on the checklist.
4. Get enough rest; don’t do too much at once
Include time for breaks and sleep in your plan. Do not try to do too much at once; injuries increase with tiredness. Instead of working late into the night, go to bed early and wake up earlier than usual.
5. Build momentum
Set aside an hour or two every day instead of spending long hours packing. Even if all you did within a given period was pack your books or a single drawer, you have made progress. Avoid expecting too much from yourself. Beat stress by giving yourself enough time.
6. Inventory your stuff
To avoid looking for things later, know exactly where you packed them. Do this by creating an inventory; before you put an item into its box, note it under the right header in the register. Do this in reverse when you are unpacking in your new place.
7. Get rid of stuff you don’t need
Reduce the stress of unpacking by getting rid of things you no longer need. Don’t transport clutter; it will inflate your moving costs and make your new home less appealing. Sell, donate or trash items you don’t need.
8. Label boxes for easy identification
Pack boxes according to where you want them to go in your new home. Color-code the labels on the boxes according to the rooms where they should be. Label boxes on the top and bottom. That way, the movers will know exactly where to deposit them.
9. Secure your valuable items
You will feel less stress if you don’t have to worry about valuable items getting missing. Legal, financial, and travel documents should be inside a bag that you keep on your person at all times. Jewelry, credit cards, cash, and checkbooks should also be inside the bag.
10. Ask for help
Having someone to chat with while you pack will make the work easier. As long as you throw in some fun, friends and family, or neighbors, will be happy to lend a hand. Even little children can help, as long as you keep a watchful eye on them.
